ABSTRACT

The body scan is the main formal practice taught during the first two weeks and participants practice a body scan at home daily for the first two weeks of an Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) programme. Throughout the body scan there is an encouragement to bring a flavour of allowing and warmth alongside one of exploration, curiosity, aliveness, and adventure. During the body scan participants are learning to: connect with direct experience of physical sensations and so access an immediate, intuitive way of knowing; be intentional about where and how the attention is placed; relate skilfully to mind wandering; and allow things to be as they are. The primary intention of the body scan practice is to cultivate the ability to bring attention and gentle inquiry to sensations in a systematic and deliberate way through the body. The broad intention of the body scan is to cultivate our ability to be awake to experience.